Four players qualified for this annual event,which returned to a 4 player format from 20 years ago. Elliot Liu and Mike Zaloznyy had qualified for winning the best 2 of 3 scores in the Southern Nevada Grand Prix, a series of spectacular tournaments at the Las Vegas Chess Center, Ernie Hong was the Reno Chess Club representative and Jerry Weikel, as last year’s vice-champion, qualified as well after David Lucky declined his invitation. The first round pairings were Zaloznyy-Weikel and Liu-Hong. The Reno players both lost their matches. Mike won a tactical miniature in game one and a minor piece ending in game 2 and won 2-0. Ernie Hong comments on his match,”Game 1 was the one where I sacced the kitchen sink trying to get a perpetual with Black. In game 2, I had white and earned a draw because Elliott’s advanced d-pawn was going to be lost. Elliott offered and I accepted in the double rook ending.” So his match ended 1.5-.5
On the 28th, Elliot and Mike sat down for game 1
and that was drawn after several hours of tense endgame play. Round two of the finals is tentatively scheduled for resumption on Friday, or Sunday at the Las Vegas Chess center back in Las Vegas

This entry was posted on Friday, October 3rd, 2014 at 6:48 pm and is filed under News.
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